Conn-Selmer

Conn-Selmer is an American musical-instrument manufacturer and distribution company headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana. It focuses primarily on instruments and accessories used in concert bands, marching bands, orchestras, music-education programs, and professional performance. Its portfolio spans brass, woodwind, percussion, and orchestral string instruments, combining products made in company facilities with instruments produced by outside manufacturing partners. The company was created in 2003 when Steinway Musical Instruments combined the manufacturing operations of The Selmer Company with United Musical Instruments. This structure brought together a large group of historically important American instrument names, including C.G. Conn, King, Holton, Armstrong, Benge, Scherl & Roth, and Artley, alongside Selmer and Vincent Bach. Conn-Selmer subsequently expanded its portfolio through the 2004 acquisition of the Leblanc Company, obtaining Leblanc clarinet operations and exclusive North American distribution rights for Yanagisawa saxophones. Conn-Selmer’s historical foundations reach back to Henri Selmer & Cie., established in Paris in 1885 by clarinetist and instrument-maker Henri Selmer. The American Selmer business began with Alexandre Selmer’s New York retail operation in 1909 and developed into a major importer, wholesaler, manufacturer, and student-instrument supplier. Over the twentieth century, the Selmer organization acquired or absorbed a number of manufacturers, including Vincent Bach, Buescher, Ludwig, Glaesel, and facilities formerly associated with C.G. Conn. These transactions created much of the industrial and brand base later consolidated under Conn-Selmer. The company’s best-known professional offerings include Vincent Bach brass instruments, C.G. Conn brasswinds, King marching and orchestral brass, Holton horns and trombones, Selmer saxophones and clarinets, Armstrong flutes and piccolos, Leblanc clarinets, and Ludwig-Musser percussion. Conn-Selmer also distributes Henri Selmer Paris woodwinds in North America and serves as the United States distributor for Yanagisawa saxophones. The Henri Selmer Paris brand is separate from the American Selmer manufacturing and distribution operation, although the two businesses share historical roots and a North American commercial relationship. Conn-Selmer serves both premium and educational segments. Its professional lines emphasize established designs, specialist craftsmanship, and recognition among orchestral, jazz, marching, and band musicians. Its student and intermediate products address school programs and developing players, with manufacturing increasingly involving international sourcing. The company has also outsourced production of several brand lines, particularly instruments and string products made in China or other Asian locations, while retaining domestic manufacturing for selected products and facilities. Conn-Selmer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments. Steinway Musical Instruments was acquired in 2013 by Paulson & Co., the investment firm founded by John Paulson. Conn-Selmer remains an important operating company within that ownership structure and is described as one of the largest manufacturers and importers of band and orchestral instruments in the United States. Its recent history has also included labor disputes, facility changes, and continuing debate over the balance between domestic production and lower-cost overseas sourcing.

Conn-Selmer’s corporate identity is modern, but its commercial heritage includes several of the most established names in American and European band-instrument manufacturing. The earliest major strand is Henri Selmer & Cie., founded in Paris in 1885 by clarinetist Henri Selmer, initially making reeds and mouthpieces before moving into clarinet production. After Alexandre Selmer established a New York shop in 1909, the American Selmer business became the principal importer of Selmer Paris products in the United States. During the first half of the twentieth century, H. & A. Selmer (USA) developed from a retail operation into a wholesaler and manufacturer. It broadened its range with American-made products, introduced the Bundy student line and Signet intermediate line, and later established a substantial domestic brasswind manufacturing base. The company’s Artist program, begun in 1952, offered musicians favorable arrangements for using Selmer Paris instruments and helped strengthen the brand’s professional reputation. Selmer expanded through acquisitions. It purchased the Harry Pedler brasswind plant in Elkhart in 1958 and Vincent Bach Corporation in 1961. Bach production moved from Mount Vernon, New York, to Elkhart in 1965, while the premium Bach Stradivarius line continued. Selmer acquired Buescher in 1963, obtained rights to Brilhart mouthpieces and the Lesher Woodwind Company in 1966, purchased additional C.G. Conn facilities in 1970, acquired Glaesel in 1977, and bought Ludwig Drum Company in 1981. These transactions gave Selmer manufacturing capacity across brass, woodwinds, percussion, and orchestral strings. Corporate ownership changed several times. Magnavox acquired H. & A. Selmer in 1970, and Philips later acquired Magnavox. The Selmer assets were sold to Integrated Resources in 1989. Following Integrated Resources’ 1993 bankruptcy, the business was sold to Kirkland Messina and reorganized as Selmer Industries. Selmer Industries acquired Steinway Musical Properties in 1995 and adopted the name Steinway Musical Instruments. The company subsequently shifted some student production toward Asian sourcing, while continuing to maintain important domestic manufacturing and professional product lines. In 2000, Steinway Musical Instruments acquired United Musical Instruments, whose brands included C.G. Conn, King, Armstrong, Benge, Artley, and Scherl & Roth. In 2003, United Musical Instruments was combined with The Selmer Company’s instrument operations to form Conn-Selmer. The 2004 Leblanc acquisition added clarinet manufacturing and North American Yanagisawa distribution rights. Conn-Selmer later ended Leblanc brasswind production, discontinued the Martin brand, and moved Holton production to Elkhart. The resulting company operates as a multi-brand house rather than a single-design consumer brand. Its portfolio includes professional and student instruments, products made in domestic facilities, and lines sourced from overseas contractors. Brands associated with Conn-Selmer include Vincent Bach, C.G. Conn, King, Holton, Selmer, Armstrong, Leblanc, Ludwig-Musser, Glaesel, Scherl & Roth, and Wm. Lewis & Son. It also distributes Henri Selmer Paris woodwinds in North America and Yanagisawa saxophones in the United States. Labor relations and production geography have been recurring issues. The Vincent Bach facility experienced a strike in 2006, and the Eastlake plant experienced a separate strike in 2011. The company has also faced criticism from musicians’ organizations over the replacement of union workers and the transfer of production abroad. In 2013, Paulson & Co. acquired Steinway Musical Instruments. A reported 2026 plan to move most Eastlake work to China illustrates the continuing tension between the company’s historic American manufacturing identity and international cost-based production.

• 2013

  Paulson & Co. acquires Steinway Musical Instruments

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  Conn-Selmer became part of the Paulson-owned Steinway Musical Instruments group.

• 2004

  Leblanc is acquired

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  Conn-Selmer acquired Leblanc and gained North American distribution rights for Yanagisawa saxophones.

• 2003

  Conn-Selmer is formed

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  The Selmer and United Musical Instruments operations were consolidated under the Conn-Selmer name.

• 2000

  United Musical Instruments joins Steinway Musical Instruments

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  The transaction brought several historic American band-instrument brands into the Steinway group.

• 1995

  Selmer Industries acquires Steinway Musical Properties

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition created the corporate platform later known as Steinway Musical Instruments.

• 1981

  Ludwig Drum Company is acquired

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition expanded Selmer’s portfolio into drums and percussion.

• 1963

  Buescher is acquired

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  Selmer acquired the Buescher Band Instrument Company, a major supplier of student saxophones.

• 1961

  Vincent Bach Corporation is acquired

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  Selmer acquired Vincent Bach and later moved its production to Elkhart while retaining the Bach Stradivarius professional line.

• 1952

  Selmer Artist program begins

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  The program promoted Selmer Paris instruments through arrangements with performing and recording musicians.

• 1909

  Alexandre Selmer opens a New York operation

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  Alexandre Selmer established a United States retail and distribution presence for Selmer products.

• 1885

  Henri Selmer & Cie. is established

  [1]Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org

  Henri Selmer founded the Paris business that later became the historical foundation of the Selmer instrument group.

Professional, educational, orchestral, concert-band, and marching-band instruments across multiple historic brands.

• Brass instruments

  Vincent Bach

  Vincent Bach is Conn-Selmer’s premium brass brand, known especially for professional trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, and trombones. The Bach Stradivarius family is associated with high-end orchestral, jazz, concert-band, and solo performance. The brand also includes student and intermediate instruments designed for developing players.

• Brass instruments

  C.G. Conn

  C.G. Conn covers a broad range of brasswinds, including trumpets, cornets, flugelhorns, trombones, French horns, sousaphones, and related band instruments. The brand has long been associated with American band and orchestral manufacturing and remains particularly relevant in educational, concert-band, and marching settings.

• Brass and marching instruments

  King

  King offers brass instruments used in concert, marching, and jazz contexts, including trombones, trumpets, baritones, cornets, flugelhorns, tubas, and sousaphones. Its portfolio also includes marching-focused instruments and historically related guitar products.

• Woodwind and brass instruments

  Selmer (USA)

  Selmer (USA) is the American manufacturing and distribution line descended from H. & A. Selmer. It includes saxophones, clarinets, flutes, oboes, bassoons, trumpets, trombones, baritones, and tubas, with substantial student and intermediate production sourced from international manufacturers.

• Professional woodwinds

  Henri Selmer Paris

  Henri Selmer Paris is the French professional instrument brand historically connected to the Selmer family. Conn-Selmer distributes its woodwinds in North America, including acclaimed saxophones and clarinets. The products are made in France by the separate Henri Selmer Paris company rather than being ordinary Conn-Selmer student instruments.

• Flutes and piccolos

  Armstrong

  Armstrong focuses on flutes and piccolos for students, ensembles, and advancing players. The brand became part of the Conn-Selmer portfolio through the United Musical Instruments transaction and contributes to the company’s education-oriented woodwind range.

• Clarinets

  Leblanc

  Leblanc is a clarinet brand acquired by Conn-Selmer in 2004. Conn-Selmer retained Leblanc clarinet production while ending its brasswind manufacturing activities. The brand serves student, ensemble, and other educational and performance requirements.

• Percussion

  Ludwig-Musser

  Ludwig-Musser encompasses drums, timpani, mallet percussion, and related orchestral and band products. Ludwig is one of the group’s historic percussion names, while Musser is associated particularly with keyboard percussion and orchestral mallet instruments. Some sub-lines are manufactured in China.

• Orchestral strings

  Scherl & Roth

  Scherl & Roth supplies violins, violas, cellos, and double basses, primarily for student and educational use. The brand is part of Conn-Selmer’s orchestral-string portfolio and is associated with internationally sourced production.

• Professional saxophones

  Yanagisawa

  Yanagisawa is a Japanese saxophone manufacturer whose products Conn-Selmer distributes in the United States. The instruments occupy a professional and specialist position and are not manufactured by Conn-Selmer itself.

• 1952Selmer Artist program

  United States · International

  The Selmer Artist program offered selected musicians favorable arrangements in exchange for performing and recording exclusively with Selmer Paris instruments. It was intended to build professional credibility and expose aspiring players to the brand through visible artist usage.

  Outcome. The program contributed to Selmer Paris’s reputation among professional and developing musicians, although the available reference material does not quantify its commercial effect.

  Source

• 2026

  Planned transfer of Eastlake productionStrategy

  Background

  The Eastlake, Ohio, facility was part of Conn-Selmer’s historic domestic manufacturing network and had previously been affected by labor disputes.

  Action taken

  The company reportedly notified union representatives that most work would be moved to China by the end of June 2026 and that the plant would close.

  Aftermath

  The reported plan would eliminate approximately 150 jobs and further shift the company’s production mix toward overseas manufacturing.

  Source

• 2004

  Acquisition of LeblancM&A

  Background

  Leblanc was an established clarinet and brasswind business with distribution rights for Yanagisawa saxophones in North America.

  Action taken

  Conn-Selmer acquired Leblanc, retained clarinet production, and assumed the relevant Yanagisawa distribution rights.

  Aftermath

  Conn-Selmer later discontinued Leblanc brasswind production, ended the Martin brand, and moved Holton production to Elkhart.

  Source

• 2003

  Consolidation of Selmer and United Musical InstrumentsM&A

  Background

  Steinway Musical Instruments controlled both The Selmer Company’s instrument operations and United Musical Instruments after the latter’s acquisition in 2000.

  Action taken

  The businesses were combined under the Conn-Selmer name, creating a broad multi-brand band and orchestral instrument company.

  Aftermath

  The transaction established the current corporate platform and unified brands including Bach, Conn, King, Holton, Armstrong, Selmer, and Scherl & Roth.

  Source

1. 1Conn-Selmeren.wikipedia.org
2. 2Conn-Selmer official websiteconnselmer.com